As the U.S. population ages, many of us are thinking about how we can keep our brains healthy

as we grow older. One recent study estimated that for Americans today, the risk of developing

dementia at any time after age 55 is 42%. But psychologists and other researchers who study the brain have found that there are many things that all of us can do to reduce our risk, including exercising, sleeping and eating well, and staying mentally and socially engaged throughout our lives.

Today we're going to talk to a neuropsychologist about the most important lifestyle factors that affect brain health, and about the practical

steps anyone can take to reduce their risk of dementia. So what does a healthy brain look like as we age?

What kinds of physical activity, mental activity, social involvement, and other factors are

most important in maintaining brain health.

What is the relationship between depression and brain health?

Why are some populations and communities at greater risk of impairment as they age?

And what can we do to reduce disparities in brain health?

Welcome to Speaking of Psychology, the flagship podcast of the American Psychological Association that examines the links between psychological science and everyday life.

I'm Kim Mills.

My guest today is Dr. Veneta Dotson, a clinical neuropsychologist and professor of psychology and gerontology at Georgia State University.

Her research focuses on brain health and older adults, including the links between depression and brain functioning,

exercise interventions to improve brain health, and brain health disparities among older adults. She's also the founder and CEO of

the company Cerebro Fit, which provides services to help people live a brain healthy lifestyle.

Dr. Dotson is author of more than 100 academic articles and of the APA book,

Keep Your Wits About You, the Science of Brain Maintenance as you age. Dr. Dotson,

thank you for joining me today. Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure to be here.

Now, what does it mean to have a healthy brain? What does a healthy brain look like and how does it

function as a person ages? A healthy brain is one that continues to retain intact structure,

meaning that you're not having as much volume decline as we might normally see with aging,

...